12 Answers

Hi markmaki,
If your Tracker shifts into 4wd electronically, you may have a blown fuse or bad switch. If it's shifted into 4wd by a shift lever your linkage may have come apart. Either mechanism could fail shifting into 4wd if the front differential is not working properly. You could have low lubricant levels or a stripped gear thus not allowing the differential to engage.
Good luck!

Actualy this answer is all wrong, but thanks any way. I found the problem is a small air compressor mounted behind the license plate which is broken and not running right. It is called the actuator pump and it blows air into the front drive shaft to lock the wheels into the gears. It is a very small part and costs $325 from the dealer and installs in minutes.

The front diff is also a known issue. There are a series if diaphrams that hold the pressure from the air pump. This can be tested by disconnecting the pump and using a compressor in its place. If the pressure holds, the diff is ok. If it fluctuated, the diaphram is shot. Because of it being a known problem, you can get dealer rebuilds (12 months/12,000 mile warranty) for about the same price as rebuilding the existing diff. I went through all this last spring. I had to replace the pump and diff on my 99 Tracker

Sounds like your Actuator Pump is bad, that is generally easy to determine from the light blinking. It is likely the actuator will fix your problem. Going in reverse may take slight pressure off the slider within the differential and allow the failing pump to develop slightly more pressure to grab 4WD temporarily. Also now the rear wheels are pulling. At is core your pump can't develop enough pressure to move the diaphragm slider within the diff. Contact me directly via Troyobe88@gmail.com if you want me to test and/or rebuild it for you.
Also, for ALL READERS, make sure your tires are all the same regarding wear. That can cause engage and disengage issues but not likely the issue here. .

I want to add clarity to my earlier answers as I used the word Actuator in a place where I intended to say Actuator Pump.
The ACTUATOR PUMP (outside the diff and easy to replace), also known as Actuator Air Pump, Air Pump or compressor, is a small air pump that puts 5,4 to 8.25 LBS of pressure into the Actuator. The Air Pump is a pressure pump despite it sometimes being called a vacuum pump.
The ACTUATOR (within the front differential) is equivalent to a balloon. When air is pumped in it expands and engages the gear within the differential. The actuator either holds air or is doesn't just like a balloon. So engagement issues are usually the pump, disengagement issues are usually the pump, blinking light is always the pump, if a pump runs for 10 seconds and then shuts off it is the pump as it should run 3 seconds then shut off and stay off and the 4 wd light indicator should be on. A blinking light means the pump keeps coming back on and reengaging the 4wd. The actuator wasn't made to keep expanding and contracting and the differential doesn't like it either, you will develop other problems. On the website I have pumps, Differential bearing & seal Kits and other support information for testing the pump, actuator and electrical.

Please Help. Anything at all would be helpful.
I'm having the same problems with my 4x4 on my 89 Chevrolet
Tracker, except My light on the dash of my tracker lights up perfect
and dont blink or anything else. It stays lit all the time, but when it's
in 4wheel only the back wheels will spin. The front will not engage.
Every now and then it will engage, but stops almost instantly. It's a
lever 4x4 H/L/N, not a push button with auto hubs, not locking hubs
that you have to turn on the front wheels. Someone told me it's the
actuator to engage the front 4x4, but I can't locate it. Can anyone
tell me, send a pic or video, or something to locate it? Is there a
way to test it? Is there a way to bypass it and lock it into 4wheel
either all the time or only when I need it, without having to replace
the actuator? If it's not the actuator, what else could it possibly be?
It's on a 1989 Chevrolet Tracker 4x4 1.6L 4cyl 4door. Please can
anyone help me. Email me @ johnpierce61@gmail.com Thank you
in advance.

2003 tracker 4 cyl 4wd front wheels not turning when engaged the front drive shaft is spinning. I know there is a pump or actuater thats suppose to engage the fr axles. Is it located in front ride si...

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